Improved method of removing oaebon from gas-eetorts



JOHN. A. BASSETT ANDl OLIVER C. SMITH, 0F SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

Leiters .Patent N 80,438, dated July 28, 1868. l

IMPROVE!) METHOD OF REMOVING CARBON FROM GAS-RETORTS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CON CERN:

Be it known that we, Jouw A. Bassnrr and OLIVER C. SMITH, of Salem, inthe county of-Essc'x, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a newand improved Method ofARemoving Carbon from Gas-Rctorts; and we dohereby declarethe following to be a full, clear and exact description ofthe same. v

The objectof this invention is to provide a means of easily and cheaplyremoving thc accumulation of indurated carbon from the interior ci'gas-retorts, and consists, for this purpose, ofthe use of a smalldirect-acting fan and steam-blower, of a formpcculiarly adapted to theobject desired, attached directly to the retort-lid, which is madewith'an opening and other appliances to receive it, by.means of which apowerful current ofmingled air and steam is injected into the retort,decomposing and disintegrating the carbonaceous deposit, loosening itfrom the Wall of the retort, and clearing it in a comparativelyshortspace of time. f

By the present method of removing this deposit, which in most cases isto simply leave the retort open and allow a currentof air to pass in andburn up the carbon, a. great deal of time is lost, as the process is.slow and imperfect, andthe Same fuel is used to heat the retort, Whethermaking gas or not. With the apparatus which forms-the subject of thisapplication, the deposit `is quickly removed, at a small expense, theretort'is not injured, its application is readily made, and after beingapplied requires no attention untilthe process is complete.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, wewill proceed to describe the apparatus and its method of operation. Y' vI The drawing represents a vertical section of the retort, furnace, and.accompanying apparatus, in which A is the gas-retort, set in the furnaceB. On the topof the furnace, and extending along the entire line ofbenches, is a steam-main, C, communicating with a. steam-boiler, fromwhich steam is taken by means of a 'branch at each bench, a valve, D,being placed at each branch for controlling -the supply. From thisbranchV a ilexible steam-pipe, E, connects with the steam-fan blower F.This blower is fastened to the lid ofthe'retort G, from .which a pipe,H, is carried nearly to the rear end of the retort, the blower F, 'lidG, and pipe H being 1 securely fastened together so as to be placed onand removed from a retort in one piece. l i The flexible pipe E allowsthe connection' to be readilymade, and the same blower to be used -upondile'rent retorts on the line of' benches communicating with thesteam-main C. E By having a number of these blowers, the operation ofclearing may be going on simultaneously in any number of retorts'at thesame time. v

This apparatus is used by placing the retort-lid, blower, and pipe on'the mouth of the retort, and Vsecuring it, connecting the Llexiblesteam-pipe with the blower andthe branch of the steam-main, removing theplug I in the top of the stand-pipe J. Then, by letting on the steam,the blower is set in operation, forcing a curi rent of air and steamthrough the pipe H into thc retort, consuming and disintegrating thedeposited carbon,

the products esca-ping through the open stand-pipc.

The steam fan-blower has a hollow shaft, with hollow arms, bent in theform of the segment of a circle, the

` ends being open, the steam escapes, and by its reactive ecct revolvesthe arms, upon which are placed thefans, injecting a current of air bothby the fans and the injectiveeffector` the 'steamjets l Having thusdescribed our invention, we desire to claim, and secure by LettersPatent, as follows:

1. 4The apparatus shown and set forth, having the various partsconstructed and operating substantially as ',specifiedg'and used for thepurpose described. l

2. Combining an air-forcing apparatus with a retort-lid having anopening for the purpose ofadmitting air tothe interior of the retort: y

3. The combination of the pipe H` and retort-lid G with the air-forcingapparatus `F, when .used for the purpose specified. i

4. The combination ofthe flexible steam-tubo E with the main, C, andblower F, for the purpose set forth.

JOHN A. BASSETT, O. C. SMITH.

Witnesses:

'0. SEWALL,

E. C., HoornnA

